Bergen/Passaic/Essex/Morris/Union Counties. Which one? (Orange, Maplewood: house, transfer)
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Have you looked at Teaneck? Just be mindful of the specific neighborhood as there is a large orthodox Jewish community in some areas and which means houses are priced at a premium walking distance to the shul. More is open on sunday to accommodate the residents. Dumont may be another option although taxes are high.
Have you looked at Teaneck? Just be mindful of the specific neighborhood as there is a large orthodox Jewish community in some areas and which means houses are priced at a premium walking distance to the shul. More is open on sunday to accommodate the residents. Dumont may be another option although taxes are high.
Because I don't know enough about the areas, I can really only base the neighborhoods on the surrounding schools which seem to be hit or miss. I have had people tell me that their are good parts and not so good parts of Teaneck and honestly, I don't know what the not so good parts are. I'm a little skeptical of real estate agents at this point simply because I was being pushed toward an area and multiple people have told me to stay away so, when I hear a REA say Teaneck is getting better, I'm like so this makes me nervous lol. I may be nervous for no good reason, but not living there I can't say yes or no to that. I don't want to spend my life commuting so, I am looking for guidance on nice places commutable to Manhattan.
I have looked at Dumont, Maywood, Englewood, Bergenfield, Cresskill, Demarest, Oradell...really about every city in Bergen, with the exception of Okland LOL. Taxes in Jersey are pretty high but so are those in LI and in Jersey you get more house for your money. I'm also looking at Saddle brook.
Out of those Morris County is the only county i'd consider living in. Even though there are nice towns in each of these, I really dislike much of everything of the others as a whole.
Can you clarify? If it may offend some, feel free to direct message me. I don't know enough about any of the places to speak on them other than I don't want to live in Paterson or Newark and it seems the Oranges don't get a great wrap either so, I will avoid that area too.
Can you clarify? If it may offend some, feel free to direct message me. I don't know enough about any of the places to speak on them other than I don't want to live in Paterson or Newark and it seems the Oranges don't get a great wrap either so, I will avoid that area too.
Morris County is probably outside of your commute range and I'd guess that it's probably more rural than you're looking for.
As someone that lives in South Orange, I can tell you that "the Oranges" is not really a single entity that makes any sense. When you say 'the Oranges' don't have a great reputation, you're mostly talking about Orange and East Orange. South Orange, along with it's sister town Maplewood makes up a 'hot area' (sometimes referred to as SOMa) for people moving from NYC (especially 'Brooklyn'). West Orange is a kind of suburban connector between SOMa and Montclair, which is another 'hot area') which some see as a cheaper alternative to SOMa or Montclair. South Orange, Maplewood and Montclair are going to be fairly competitive and probably more expensive than you're looking for, and the taxes are a tad insane and these towns are very liberal.
That said, there are areas of Orange (Seven Oaks) and East Orange (Harrison Ave) near South Orange that could be viable if you're not in need of a school district.
The other thing, which I hinted to before is that you talk about a commute 'under an hour' and you're looking at Morris County where the train ride itself is pretty much an hour. I have a train ride of (theoretically) 35 minutes, but in reality I have a 1:15 to 1:30 door to door commute (Allowing for the normal NJT lateness as well). This includes getting a shuttle to the train in South Orange and a fairly long walk to my office in Manhattan (on 11th Ave.), but your commute is likely to be a lot longer than the actual time spent on the primary mode of transit.
As you get to shorter and shorter commute times you'll have less stock of what you'd consider a 'nice' house. And I'm not really sure how practical a pool really would be. If you want a pool I'd get a condo or just use the pool your town has.
As far as people saying they'd only live in Morris County out of that list, they're probably making a political statement as much as anything else.
Morris County is probably outside of your commute range and I'd guess that it's probably more rural than you're looking for.
As someone that lives in South Orange, I can tell you that "the Oranges" is not really a single entity that makes any sense. When you say 'the Oranges' don't have a great reputation, you're mostly talking about Orange and East Orange. South Orange, along with it's sister town Maplewood makes up a 'hot area' (sometimes referred to as SOMa) for people moving from NYC (especially 'Brooklyn'). West Orange is a kind of suburban connector between SOMa and Montclair, which is another 'hot area') which some see as a cheaper alternative to SOMa or Montclair. South Orange, Maplewood and Montclair are going to be fairly competitive and probably more expensive than you're looking for, and the taxes are a tad insane and these towns are very liberal.
That said, there are areas of Orange (Seven Oaks) and East Orange (Harrison Ave) near South Orange that could be viable if you're not in need of a school district.
The other thing, which I hinted to before is that you talk about a commute 'under an hour' and you're looking at Morris County where the train ride itself is pretty much an hour. I have a train ride of (theoretically) 35 minutes, but in reality I have a 1:15 to 1:30 door to door commute (Allowing for the normal NJT lateness as well). This includes getting a shuttle to the train in South Orange and a fairly long walk to my office in Manhattan (on 11th Ave.), but your commute is likely to be a lot longer than the actual time spent on the primary mode of transit.
As you get to shorter and shorter commute times you'll have less stock of what you'd consider a 'nice' house. And I'm not really sure how practical a pool really would be. If you want a pool I'd get a condo or just use the pool your town has.
As far as people saying they'd only live in Morris County out of that list, they're probably making a political statement as much as anything else.
See prime example of why I need this lol - I have no idea what is nice versus not - I drove around west Orange and thought it was gorgeous - I'm going to see a home in Montclair this weekend so we will see. I was looking in Parsippany in Morris County and according to NJ Transit it is 57 minutes on the train from Convent Station. But I would like to be closer so Montclair is an ideal place and their downtown area is so cute. I like Livingston as well - seeing a house there as well. I lived in Maryland as a kid so, maybe my idea of rural is a bit different. I will look at South Orange now. I am not in need of schools but I want a safe area.
rural would be like farms and a huge distance between home to me - I'm not looking for that or dirt roads. a regular neighborhood I guess but nothing too congested. Thank you for this by the way.
Delays, time to walk/drive to the train station, time waiting for the train, time walking to your place of work from the time you get off the train. It adds up.
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so this makes me nervous lol. I may be nervous for no good reason, but not living there I can't say yes or no to that. I don't want to spend my life commuting so, I am looking for guidance on nice places commutable to Manhattan. 
